Thinking about getting into riding a motorcycle? You’re not alone. Motorcycles, while always popular, have become increasingly so over the last few years, and there are plenty of good reasons for that.

Not sold on the idea just yet? Check out these reasons to sell the car and hit the road on a hog.

It saves gas money

If you’re selling people on something, always start on how it’ll fatten their wallet. My old man taught me that one, and I think it’s about as true as anything in this world. Well, motorcycles are cheap. They’re cheaper to buy than cars, usually cheaper to repair, and they are far cheaper to get around with. You get incredible gas mileage with a bike, numbers you wouldn’t believe in a car. On average, bikes get about 55 miles per gallon. Yeah, I know. Imagine what you could do with all that extra money.

It gets you out in nature

For you nature lovers out there, there’s nothing like riding the great roads of America going at top speeds and having nothing between you and the great American wilderness. It can be a life-changing experience. Riding a bike also means you can get down roads and trails that cars just don’t have access to. You’ll be able to see so much more.

It shortens your commute

Bikes are fast and they can weave between traffic that is stalled during rush hour. So you can get to the office or job site thirty minutes faster and sleep in while Joe Pickup and Steve Sedan are sitting there watching bumpers and wondering what they’re doing with their lives.

It can be very spiritual

All that nature and speed means bikers get a lot of time to think. It’s no coincidence that the most famous book about bikes is “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.” Bikers get a chance to really take in the world, and that can lead to some pretty incredible and spiritual experiences.

It’s still the coolest way to get around

Bikes are cool. They have always been cool. They will always be cool. No matter when or where motorcycles are the essence of bad boy (or bad girl) style. They’re rebellious, they’re sleek, they’re intimidating. Everyone wants a ride, even if most are too scared to jump on.

Just look at that list. It’s hard to imagine why anyone keeps driving cars when there’s so much going for the motorcycle.

Sure, there are the old motorcycle risks, the fears of motorcycle accidents, but what in life is ever worth doing that doesn’t have a little risk involved?

Do yourself a favor and spend a little more time thinking over this list and a little less time worrying about what could happen if all your luck went against you.

So, take a little more time to think about all the positives that come from riding a motorcycle and a little less worrying about the far-off what-if scenarios. Trust me, when you decide to finally start riding, you’ll be glad you did.

A trip to the dentist twice a year is a common occurrence for many people. Many of us can name at least one instance where we have been sedated for a procedure, whether for a root canal or having wisdom teeth removed. But how did you feel when your parents took you to the dentist as a child? Many children experience anxiety at the dentist, and in order to keep them cooperative and calm, they are sedated for simple procedures like filling a cavity. However, should we really be using nitrous oxide or an intravenous sedative for our children?

According to this recent article in the New York Times, sometimes children can face major complications during sedation and even die. Over three decades up to 2013, it has been found that at least 44 children between the ages of 2 and 5 have died of complications arising from various forms of anesthesia. The situation is not getting any better. In 2016, a 14-month old died in the dentist’s chair when she was put under general anesthesia to fix two cavities. Even worse, it became clear after the family sued that the x-rays showed no evidence of cavities in the first place. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry has published strict guidelines for sedating children, but it is still an incredibly commonplace practice. The necessity of sedation for small procedures like filling a cavity is under scrutiny, however, and some dentists claim it would be easier to place a temporary filling until a child is able to sit still and receive a proper one. In addition, a general dentist may have only had a single weekend seminar to cover anesthesia. Considering that children with developmental disabilities may react differently to anesthesia, it is important that dentists have more varied experience. Additionally, if the decision is made to put a child under sedation, it ought to be monitored by a full fledged pediatric anesthesiologist, and not just the dentist.

Many children experience fear and anxiety when they head to a dentist’s office, so the first step in preventing accidental sedation deaths is to address their fear so they will sit still. Of course, even if this fear and anxiety are addressed, there will still be those children that will refuse to sit still for even the simplest of procedures. In that case, when it comes to the health and well-being of our children, no one can be over-qualified. If a child needs to be sedated for a serious dental issue, there should be an anesthesiologist in the room. For incredibly minor dental issues like cavities, all alternate methods should be exhausted before sedation is considered.

Overall, the parent should be consulted and be informed of all of the risks associated with sedation and given plenty of alternative options, and they should seek a second opinion if they think a dentist is too quick to jump to sedation.

It’s the digital age. Everyone’s just waiting for that bestseller to turn into a movie or a TV series. The writer is dead. Who even really reads anymore?

Sound familiar?

It’s true that visual media platforms are pretty much more aggressively eye-catching than a wall of text is. Infographics, adorable animated GIFs, YouTube ads that you can’t skip – these are all pretty prevalent in every medium used today. However, when you get down to the brass tacks of the situation, none of these things would exist without the content writing behind it.

The same can be said for your website – maybe even your entire social media reputation. You could have the best branding team with the most aesthetically pleasant color palettes and logos but still turn potential clients away if you’re nothing at the core. That’s where the heart of the marketing lies – and it’s in the content you’re able to produce.

This is the 21st century. People are more critical of the media they consume and do so detest being told what to do. Audiences today won’t just pick up the phone and call a 1-800 number just because a commercial told them to, they want content that matters and is told through a reputable source. That kind of trust is earned; this can be done, for a start, by not just telling them one thing without the facts. People these days – with the rise in social media – are thrilled by the prospect of conversation, by the prospect that their opinions and voices are ones that are being heard out.

Marketable content not only inspires the conversation but it also starts it off. According to the website of the people with Kinetic Word, a website could generate thousands of hits a day without ever getting a new client. This can be attributed to the fact that the website can have all the best features and be really visually pleasing but offer nothing of substance – no conversation or new information.

So is investing in marketable content really worth it? Try looking at every single successful brand in the industry today. See that what you’ve just read is more than just simple speculation.

“Keep Austin Weird” has been the motto of this state capital for years. You might even say for generations as Austin, Texas has been hip and happening in the scene of culture and entertainment since the 19th century – not even the civil war or the Great Depression could keep this place’s spirit for fun down. And it just keeps growing – don’t you know that “weird” is the new “cool”?

Continuously growing and harnesses all different kinds of activities for the growth of both arts, the economy, and sports – this town has more than just kept weird alive, it has revolutionized the meaning of the word. From one renowned event like the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival just a few weeks prior, Austin is already all ready to ready, set, go on the MotoGP World Championships at the Circuit of the Americas.

This motor racing circuit has been the premiere location for motor sports and entertainment in the United States; the rest of the world has taken notice. Thousands of people have flocked from all corners of the globe just to be a part of the action, the thrill, and the excitement. Local businesses, like those who offer services of moto gp limos, thrive on such circumstances and it’s a win-win situation: the town’s economy fares well and its attractions are made to be even more capable of hosting these amazing festivities.

In a world so bound by routine and profit, it pays well – for the mind and soul just the same – to care for these factions of culture that life makes available to everyone. A luxury, a treat for anyone who comes by to enjoy the atmosphere and to be surrounded by people with similar hobbies and interest – these are the little, grand moments that make life worthwhile. Keeping Austin Weird, alongside the events like MotoGP that promote that, inspire for life to be invigorating, shaking those limp and routine lives from atrophy with a good party or two.

It is widely known that being arrested in Texas for for driving while intoxicated (DWI) is not a walk in the park. As pointed out on the website of Mark T. Lassiter, the laws are stringent and the penalties are high. However, there seems to be a softening of attitude in Texas courts, at least in Collin County, where instead of locking them up and throwing away the key, some defendants convicted of DWI may be eligible for alternative programs in lieu of incarceration.

But that will not apply to drunk drivers who leave the scene of a crime.

A man with a blood alcohol content (BAC) that was three times more than the legal limit caused the death of a 56-year-old man and injuries of another driver when he crashed into the deceased’s car and causing the third driver to crash into them. He left the scene of the crime, but was later found passed out about half a mile away. That was two years ago. He was sentenced to 18 years in jail.

DWI is a serious crime in itself, but leaving the scene of the crime makes it even worse. However, there are many ways that a person’s actions can be interpreted, each of which are equally probable and hard to prove. For example, in the case above, the defendant was found half a mile away from the scene of the crime. The obvious conclusion is that he was fleeing the scene to avoid getting arrested. It is also possible that the man was confused and disoriented and had simply wandered away. This puts a different complexion on the matter.

Later investigation revealed, however, that the defendant had in fact left the scene of a crime on a previous occasion. This supports the first interpretation.

The point is, not everything is as it seems, especially when there are no independent witnesses to a crime. It is mostly a matter of interpretation by the arresting officer. The first thing a good criminal defense lawyer would do is to consider the past history of the defendant and explore every angle to provide a client with the best possible interpretation of the facts of a case.

Trains once served as a major means of transportation to thousands of Americans; these also caused a major impact on the country’s economic growth by carrying tons of cargo and goods from one state to another in a fast and efficient manner.

The use of trains, to transport cargo and people, saw a remarkable increase between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The positive effect of this occurrence to economic growth, though, was slowed down by the unexpected increase in the number of job-related accidents involving railroad workers.

Today, federal and state laws exist to ensure the safety and health of railroad workers. These same laws mandate and make it imperative for employers to makes sure that all railroad employees are safe whenever in the workplace by:

Giving them proper training about their job

Making sure that all equipment and tools needed to perform job are properly maintained and in good working condition

Providing sufficient lighting in work areas

Putting in enough man-power to accomplish necessary work

Ensuring that working areas are always maintained and cleaned

Providing proper supervision in the workplace

Making sure that all walkways are safe from hazards

Ensuring that all of the train’s brakes (whether manual or hand brakes) are without defect and in good working condition (including air reservoirs, connecting pipes, and air hoses)

Keeping all parts of the locomotive always safe for use and working properly

In cases of injuries, though, workers should know that they are protected by the Federal Employer’s Liability Act or FELA, which gives them the right to file a claims lawsuit against his/her employer for financial damages, lost wages, medical expenses, and/or disability (partial or permanent). But for a FELA claim to be valid, the injured employee has to prove that he/she was: injured during the performance of work; the work area was not safe, and that the equipment and/or tools available for use were faulty or defective; and, that accident was clearly a result of an unsafe working area or working condition.

Through FELA, an injured worker can be awarded the compensation that he/she deserves. But he/she has to have a strong and competent representation from a highly-qualified lawyer who practices personal injury in San Diego for a greater chance of netting the compensation that he/she deserves and needs. Lawyers are taught how to file these claims and see them through to their completion.

Recent incidents have shown pit bulls tendencies to attack and severely injure people – including children and infants – which have led to many people rallying to ban the pit bull breed. Although there are statistics that can support such claims, there is more to pit bulls than their aggressiveness and violence.

Pit bulls are a strong breed of dogs with a compact muscular body and very strong jaw strength. These traits are sought because initially, pit bulls were bred for bull baiting and dog fighting (both of which has been banned). It is because of these dog breed’s aggressiveness and physical power that a bite from a pit bull can be catastrophic. Pit bull mauling can include bone fractures, deep cuts, lacerations, infections, and possible amputations. Severe scarring and emotional trauma can also be experienced by the victims, and fatalities have also been a strong issue with pit bulls.

Despite the number of people and organizations lobbying to ban pit bulls (along with dog breeds branded as vicious), places like Carson City, Nevada has passed a law against declaring a dog dangerous based on their breeds alone. Under the new protection law AB110, local government is also banned from endorsing ordinances that outlaw specific dog types.

One thing people can help in easing up the dangers of pit bulls is through proper awareness of the breed and training the dog to avoid it from being aggressive. Every dog has a tendency to bite; the owner therefore should know the responsibilities that come with owning and taking care of a pit bull.

A recent merger proposal between American Airlines and US Airways has prompted an inquiry by the US Government Accountability Office. The airlines claim that because of several other high-profile airline mergers that have gone through in the last five years, this deal will level the playing field and raise competition between the flight giants that have been formed. The merger also intends to financially strengthen the airline industry overall.

However, many critics are concerned the merger will have the opposite effect by significantly decreasing competition, resulting in higher prices. The GAO study, Issues Raised by the Proposed Merger of American Airlines and US Airways, notes that even though the merging airlines “overlap on only 12 nonstop routes, no other nonstop competitors exist on 7 of those 12.” Whether or not this kind of reduction in industry competition outweighs the estimated $1.4 billion increase in net gain for the company remains to be decided.

Critics are also concerned that while US Airways is committed to serving smaller communities, the merger will force the company to drop a percentage of their service slots at airports and decrease the availability of flights to those communities.

The merger proposal must also undergo an antitrust review conducted by the Department of Justice before it can be approved. The airlines’ legal teams must be incredibly busy working on this.

This is some big-time business stuff. While most people will never be a part of such a huge business deal, even small businesses can benefit from the knowledge of a business lawyer.

The North Carolina Senate is currently reviewing a bill with provisions to track domestic violence suspects using ankle bracelets that would alert authorities if the person came within a given distance of the victim’s residence or office.

However, because the bill pertains to those who have not yet been convicted of domestic violence, but have been served a protective domestic violence order, reviewers have questioned if monitoring before conviction could be qualified as illegal search and seizure. Senator Warren Daniel has also raised the question of effectiveness in situations where a monitored person is really dedicated to murdering the victim, although this is a rarer, extreme case of escalation in domestic violence.

The bill also suggests that the cost of constant surveillance on a person could be offset by fining the monitored person, from several hundred up to thousands of dollars, depending on what it would really end up costing.

Many committee members have agreed that while the main idea is worthwhile, these issues within the bill need to be studied and amended before the bill can travel any further in legislation.

It is likely that the bill will undergo revisions and be put up for review again at the North Carolina Senate’s 2014 session.

The United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration are responsible for regulating workplace conditions and protecting workers’ rights. Construction injuries are a special concern of OSHA, as construction is widely considered one of the most dangerous professions in the nation. In 2010, OSHA cited 774 fatalities in construction, over a third of which were caused by falls. The administration has created a Fall Prevention Campaign in order to answer this unfortunate statistic.

The Fall Prevention Campaign strives to educate construction workers on how to save lives through improved safety practices, in three basic steps. These points focus on planning ahead, providing correct equipment, and training workers to effectively use the safety equipment.

Planning ahead – Have the details of a project hammered out before beginning. For example, know what needs to be done and how, as well as what safety gear the job requires

Providing correct equipment – Make sure all the right tools are available for workers, including protective gear

Training workers – Employers are responsible for teaching their employees how and when to correctly use the provided equipment in order to avoid accidents

The campaign resources include a website, training tools to help employers, worksite posters, and wallet-sized cards for workers to carry. Most of these are also available in Spanish.